Ballistic wall structure

ABSTRACT

A ballistic wall structure has a primary wall panel formed of a ballistic-resistant material, the primary wall panel having a bottom edge adjacent to a floor surface, and extending to an upper edge above head level, a removable secondary wall panel formed of ballistic-resistant material and removably supported adjacent to the primary wall panel, the secondary wall panel having a lower edge at a first level, and an upper edge at a second level, the first level being at a level above the bottom edge of the primary wall panel, and the second level being at a level below the upper edge of the primary wall panel, such that the secondary wall panel bears the effects of bullet strikes at an intermediate level, and may be replaced as wear becomes excessive without replacing the primary wall panel. There may be a curtain layer adjacent to the primary and secondary wall panels.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to shooting ranges, and more particularlyto a ballistic wall structure that provides extra protection that can beeasily replaced where most bullet strikes occur.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A shoot house is a type of indoor firing range modified to resemble aresidential or commercial environment, with the walls and floor beingfortified as ballistic wall structures to safely absorb rounds firedfrom close range. It is used to train military and law enforcementpersonnel for various urban combat scenarios while permitting them touse their full power service weapons. Because the structures need toabsorb gun fire, strong materials for the walls and floors are neededsuch as concrete, steel, and/or ballistic rubber. Use of materials thatcannot absorb gun fire may lead to injuries or death as bullets eitherpenetrate completely through the material or bullets or bullet fragmentsricochet back towards the shooter.

Even ballistic wall structures that include steel plates periodicallyneed to be replaced. When the plates are struck by a bullet, sometimesdimples can be formed. Dimples have the potential to send bulletfragments back at a shooter if they are struck precisely by subsequentbullet. As a result, significantly dimpled steel plates requirereplacement. When the steel plates are subjected to repeated bulletstrikes in close proximity to one another, the plate will eventuallyfail, which also requires plate replacement. Conventionally constructedshoot houses can be difficult and time-consuming to repair given thatsteel plates are heavy and are frequently welded or bolted into place.

Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved ballistic wall structurethat provides extra protection that can be easily replaced where mostbullet strikes occur. In this regard, the various embodiments of thepresent invention substantially fulfill at least some of these needs. Inthis respect, the ballistic wall structure according to the presentinvention substantially departs from the conventional concepts anddesigns of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatusprimarily developed for the purpose of providing extra protection thatcan be easily replaced where most bullet strikes occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved ballistic wall structure, andovercomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of the priorart. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which willbe described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an improvedballistic wall structure that has all the advantages of the prior artmentioned above.

To attain this, the preferred embodiment of the present inventionessentially comprises a primary wall panel formed of aballistic-resistant material, the primary wall panel having a bottomedge adjacent to a floor surface, and extending to an upper edge abovehead level, a removable secondary wall panel formed ofballistic-resistant material and removably supported adjacent to theprimary wall panel, the secondary wall panel having a lower edge at afirst level, and an upper edge at a second level, the first level beingat a level above the bottom edge of the primary wall panel, and thesecond level being at a level below the upper edge of the primary wallpanel, such that the secondary wall panel bears the effects of bulletstrikes at an intermediate level, and may be replaced as wear becomesexcessive without replacing the primary wall panel. There may be acurtain layer adjacent to the primary and secondary wall panels. Thereare, of course, additional features of the invention that will bedescribed hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of theclaims attached.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofthat follows may be better understood and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top isometric view of the current embodiment of ballisticwall structures constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention installed to form a shoot house.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the current embodiment of a ballisticwall structure of FIG. 1 configured as an exterior wall section.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side sectional view of the current embodiment ofthe belly plate of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the current embodiment of a ballisticwall structure of FIG. 1 configured as an interior wall section.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side sectional view of the current embodiment ofthe belly plates of FIG. 4.

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout thevarious figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT

An embodiment of a shoot house formed by the ballistic wall structuresof the present invention is shown and generally designated by thereference numeral 10.

FIG. 1 illustrates a section of the improved shoot house 10 of thepresent invention. More particularly, the shoot house consists ofmultiple interior wall section ballistic wall structures 12 and multipleexterior wall section ballistic wall structures 14 installed on a floor60. Interior wall sections have to absorb bullets fired from both sides,while exterior wall sections only have to absorb bullets fired from theinterior side. The details of the construction of the exterior wallsections are described in the discussion of FIGS. 2 and 3. The detailsof the construction of the interior wall sections are described in thediscussion of FIGS. 4 and 5. A team of shooters 100 and a typicalarrangement of bullet strikes 102 on the ballistic wall structures 12,14 are shown.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the improved exterior wall section ballisticwall structure 14 of the present invention. More particularly, theexterior wall section is shown installed on a floor 60. In the currentembodiment, the floor is made of concrete. The exterior wall section hasa wall panel 16 with a top 18 and a bottom 20. The bottom 20 of the wallpanel is attached to the top 22 of the floor by a carriage bolt 92attached to one leg 24 of a floor mount 26. The other leg 28 of thefloor mount is attached to the floor by a floor anchor 30. In thecurrent embodiment, the wall panel is a 9′ tall, ⅜″ thick AR 500 steelplate, the floor mount is a 3″×3″×0.25″ mild steel angle, the carriagebolt is ½-13 UNC Grade 8, and the floor anchor is ½-13 UNC wedge typefor concrete. “AR 500” refers to abrasion resistant steel with ahardness of 500 on the Brinell hardness scale.

The interior surface 32 of the wall panel 16 has a bottom support 34attached thereto such that one leg 36 of the bottom support extendsperpendicularly outward from the interior surface of the wall panel andthe other leg 38 extends upward parallel to the interior surface of thewall panel. The legs of the bottom support define a channel 40 betweenthem and the exterior surface of the wall panel. In the currentembodiment, the bottom support is a 2″33 3″×1.25″ mild steel angle andis positioned 3 feet above the bottom 20 of the wall panel. However, thebottom support can be positioned at any suitable location on theinterior surface of the wall panel.

The interior surface 32 of the wall panel 16 has a top support 46attached thereto above the bottom support 34 such that one leg 48 of thetop support extends perpendicularly outward from the interior surface ofthe wall panel and the other leg 50 extends downward parallel to theinterior surface of the wall panel. The legs of the top support define achannel 52 between them and the exterior surface of the wall panel. Inthe current embodiment, the top support is a 3″×3″×1.25″ mild steelangle, and the top support is positioned 4 feet above the bottomsupport. However, the top support can be positioned at any suitablelocation on the interior surface of the wall panel above the bottomsupport. The positions of the top and bottom supports are determinedsuch that the majority of bullet strikes on the exterior wall section 14will occur between the top and bottom supports, which in the currentembodiment is a 4 foot zone covering the typical torso and head heightof a human target. The exterior surface 90 of the wall panel isfeatureless because the exterior surface will not experience bulletstrikes.

A sacrificial liner plate 54 has a top 56 that is inserted into thechannel 52 of the top support 46 and a bottom 58 that is inserted intothe channel 40 of the bottom support 34. The liner plate is installed atan obtuse angle relative to the shooter so that bullets striking theliner plate are deflected in a single direction, downward and away fromthe shooter to extend the service life of the liner plate and provideadditional safety to the trainee. The liner plate can be angled variousdegrees from vertical, depending upon the distance between the top andbottom supports and the size of the top support. However, the optimumangle of 3°, is the maximum angle achievable with a 3″×3″×1.25″ topsupport, is preferable to minimize the thickness of the exterior wallsection 14 to keep the wall section as thin and realistic relative toconventional non-fortified construction as possible. The channel 52 ofthe top support is deeper than the channel 40 of the bottom support toensure the liner plate cannot fall into the interior of the shoot house10 even if the liner plate were to somehow become vertical. The linerplate protects the portion of the wall panel 16 that would otherwisereceive the majority of the bullet strikes. When the liner plate is wornout, the liner plate can be easily removed and replaced without havingto detach the wall panel 16 from the floor 60, which greatly decreasesthe cost associated with replacement. The liner plate considerablyextends the life of the wall panel because the liner plate prevents abullet from penetrating the liner plate and striking the wall panel. Inthe current embodiment, the liner plate is a ⅜″ thick AR 500 steelplate.

The interior surface 32 of the wall panel 16 has a curtain rail 62attached thereto such that one leg 64 of the curtain rail extendsperpendicularly outward from the interior surface of the wall panel andthe other leg 66 extends upward parallel to the interior surface of thewall panel. The legs of the bottom support define a channel 68 betweenthem and the exterior surface of the wall panel. A curtain hanger 70 hasa wheel 72 at one end is that rides on the top edge of the leg 66. Aballistic curtain 76 is attached to the other end 74 of the curtainhanger. The curtain hanger is held outward from the interior surface ofthe wall panel by the legs 38 and 50 of the bottom support 34 and topsupport 46, respectively. The bottom 78 of the ballistic curtain isretained by an optional curtain curb 80 attached to the top surface 22of the floor 60. The sides 82, 84 of the ballistic curtain are notched(86, 88) such that adjacent ballistic curtains overlap to prevent a gapthat could permit a deflected bullet or bullet fragments from escapinginto the interior of the shoot house 10 through a seam. In the currentembodiment, the curtain rail is a 4″'4″×0.25″ mild steel angle, theballistic curtain is a 4′×8′ panel of 2 inch thick ballistic rubber, andthe curtain curb is made of 2″33 2″ ballistic rubber. The ballisticrubber permits an intact bullet to initially penetrate, but slows thebullet prior to the bullet encountering the liner plate 54 or the wallpanel 16. The ballistic rubber subsequently captures any ricochets orshrapnel that are created by a bullet strike on the liner plate or wallpanel.

The purpose of the wheeled curtain hanger 70 is to facilitate ease ofinspection and removal of both the ballistic curtain and the liner plate54 during maintenance of the shoot house 10. The six maintenance stepsare:

1. Remove one of the ballistic curtains 76 and its associated curtainhanger 70 using a suitable lifting device. A preferred starting point isa ballistic curtain in a “high wear” area, such as a corner.

2. Inspect the liner plate 54 that was behind the removed ballisticcurtain 76. If the liner plate shows signs of wear, but is still usable,the liner plate can be: turned over so bullets strike the other side,rotated to put a worn spot in a different location, or replaced with anew, or “less used” panel.

3. While the liner plate 54 is removed for inspection, confirm theprimary wall has not been damaged and collect any bullet fragments fordisposal.

4. Inspect an adjacent ballistic curtain 76 located on either side ofthe removed ballistic curtain.

If the ballistic curtain shows signs of wear, but is still usable, thecurtain hanger 70 can be removed from the top of the ballistic curtainand attached to the bottom of the ballistic curtain, which reverses theballistic curtain upon reinstallation. If the wear is such that theballistic curtain is no longer suitable for use in the “high wear”location it was removed from, the ballistic curtain can alternatively beinstalled in a “low wear” location or replaced with a new ballisticcurtain.

5. Roll the newly inspected ballistic curtain 76 into the open spaceover the liner plate 54 that was just inspected. This action permitsinspection access to the adjacent liner plate. This step is repeateduntil all of the ballistic curtains and liner plates on a given sectionof wall have been adequately inspected and appropriate maintenanceaction has been taken.

6. Replace the ballistic curtain 76 that was initially removed into thenow open space located at the opposite end of the wall from the startingpoint.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the improved interior wall section ballisticwall structure 12 of the present invention. More particularly, theinterior wall section is shown installed on a floor 60. The interiorwall section is identical to the exterior wall section 14 except thatall of the features attached to the interior surface 32 of the wallpanel 16 of the exterior wall section are mirrored on both surfaces 132,190 of the wall panel 116 of the interior wall section. This duplicationis necessary because both surfaces of the wall panel 116 will experiencebullet strikes. Since all of the features attached to both surfaces ofthe wall panel 116 are identical to those attached to the interiorsurface 32 of the wall panel 16, no further description is needed.

While current embodiments of a ballistic wall structure has beendescribed in detail, it should be apparent that modifications andvariations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the truespirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above descriptionthen, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationshipsfor the parts of the invention, to include variations in size,materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly anduse, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art,and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawingsand described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by thepresent invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

1. A ballistic wall structure for a shoot house in which live ammunitiontraining exercises are conducted, the structure comprising; a primarywall panel formed of a ballistic-resistant material; the primary wallpanel having a bottom edge adjacent to a floor surface, and extending toan upper edge above head level; a removable secondary wall panel formedof ballistic-resistant material and removably supported adjacent to theprimary wall panel; the secondary wall panel having a lower edge at afirst level above the bottom edge of the primary wall panel; and thesecondary wall panel having an upper edge at a second level below theupper edge of the primary wall panel, such that the secondary wall panelbears the effects of bullet strikes at an intermediate level, and may bereplaced as wear becomes excessive without replacing the primary wallpanel.
 2. The structure of claim 1 further comprising a curtain layeradjacent to the primary and secondary wall panels, the curtain layerbeing formed of a flexible material that is penetrable by bullets, andimpenetrable by bullet fragments resulting from strikes with the wallpanels.
 3. The structure of claim 1 wherein the primary wall panelincludes a support element, and the secondary wall panel rests on thesupport element.
 4. The structure of claim 3 wherein the support elementis an upwardly opening channel.
 5. The structure of claim 1 wherein theprimary wall panel is at least 8 feet tall, and wherein the secondarywall panel is 4 feet high.
 6. The structure of claim 1 wherein thebottom of the secondary wall panel is at least about 2 feet above floorlevel.
 7. The structure of claim 1 wherein the top of the secondary wallpanel is at least about 6 feet above floor level.
 8. The structure ofclaim 1 wherein an intermediate portion of the wall panel is 5 feetabove floor level.
 9. The structure of claim 1 wherein the wallstructure is articulated to form a plurality of walls that in partdefine a room.
 10. The structure of claim 1 wherein the primary wallpanel is vertical, and the secondary wall panel is angularly offset fromvertical.
 11. The structure of claim 1 wherein the bottom of thesecondary wall panel is about 3 feet above floor level, and the top edgeof the secondary wall panel is about 7 feet above floor level.
 12. Aballistic wall structure comprising: a wall having a bottom and anexterior surface; a sacrificial liner removably attached to the exteriorsurface of the wall; wherein the liner covers a selected portion of theexterior surface of the wall; and wherein the liner prevents a bulletfrom penetrating the liner and striking the exterior surface of thewall.
 13. The structure of claim 12 wherein the liner is attached to theexterior surface of the wall such that the liner is not parallel to theexterior surface of the wall.
 14. The structure of claim 12 wherein theliner is a steel plate.
 15. The structure of claim 12 wherein the wallis a steel plate.
 16. The structure of claim 12 further comprising aplurality of angles attached to the exterior surface of the wall, eachof the angles defining a channel that removably receives one end of theliner.
 17. The structure of claim 12 further comprising a curtainremovably covering the exterior surface of the wall and the liner,wherein the curtain permits an intact bullet to penetrate completelythrough, but captures any ricochets or shrapnel created by a bulletstrike on the exterior surface of the wall or the liner.
 18. Thestructure of claim 13 wherein the exterior surface of the wall isvertical and the liner is offset from vertical by at least 3°.
 19. Thestructure of claim 13 wherein the liner is angled relative to theexterior surface of the wall such that a bullet striking the liner isdeflected downward.
 20. The structure of claim 12 wherein the selectedportion of the exterior surface of the wall covered by the liner islocated between 3 feet and 7 feet above the bottom of the wall.